Honorable Mention
The Big Meringue
DESCRIPTION
Scala dei Turchi (The Turkish Steps) is a white cliff in Realmonte (Sicily), made of a soft limestone and a blinding white marl. Natural erosion has created steps on the cliff face, making it look soft and sinuous, like a big meringue covered with sprinkles (the people sitting and walking on it). The origin of the name “Turkish Steps” is intriguing. While there is a big resemblance to Pamukkale (Turkey), the designation of “Turkish” was given centuries ago by local people, for the frequent raids carried by Turkish pirates on this area. Legend says they would find a shelter for their boats behind this rocky formation, and then climb the “steps” of the cliff and raid the villages. Today, Scala dei Turchi is a wonderful spot for viewing the sunset, as the bright white marl turns into a strong orange. Only after shooting this image, while watching it on a bigger screen, I noticed a newlywed couple in the frame kissing for their wedding photoshoot. Right at the edge of the cliff.
AUTHOR
Placido Faranda is an award-winning and worldwide published aerial photographer whose style reflects a constant quest for new landscape colors and contrasts. Placido has been passionate about photography for over 10 years, combining DSLR and mirrorless camera technology to shoot travel and street photography.Since 2016 he’s focused exclusively on drone photography, with a very distinctive top-down style that’s gained international attention on social media (TOP 50 aerial photographer of 2016 on Instagram’s @FROMWHEREIDRONE, an authority on aerial photography)
In 2017, his picture “Lady in Red” was a finalist at the Sony World Photography Awards (travel category), placing it in the top 10 of 105,692 images entered from 182 countries. The same picture was also included in the World Photography Organization’s Sony Awards Traveling Exhibitions in London, Milan, Paris and Berlin.
Another of his pictures, "Solidified Lava vs Forest" was awarded second place at the 2017 PX3, Prix de la Photographie Paris (landscape category). "Solidified Lava vs Forest" gained further worldwide exposure after being featured on National Geographic’s homepage as the “Picture of the day” in the United States, China, Japan, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Holland, Brazil and Portugal. In October 2017 the picture was awarded second place at the IPA (International Photography Awards) and chosen by the awards’ curator for the "IPA Best of Show" exhibition in New York. In November 2017 "Solidified Lava vs Forest" was awarded 1st place at ND awards 2017 and chosen over 6849 entries from 89 countries.
In 2018, for the second year in a row, his picture "The Big Meringue" is finalist at the Sony World Photography Awards (Landscape and Nature category) placing it in the top 10 of 129,338 images entered from 183 countries. In June 2018 the same picture was awarded Winner of "San Francisco Bay International Photo Show 2018".
